60 | A Search Into Your Heart
"Wow! This is seriously amazing, Mase." Alli whispered, gawking at the paintings in Camila's room.
"We aren't here to admire her art. Focus." I scolded, twisting kiddo's hairpin to unlock the drawers.
There had to be something in here. Even the smallest of clues would work. Something is better than nothing. But until now, we didn't have anything in hand.
"Oh, Travis! Hi!" Vittoria screeched enthusiastically from outside to signal us. We stopped with our movements and maintained a pin drop silence.
"Good evening, ma'am." He greeted.
"How's Andrew?" She asked, initiating a conversation to distract him.
"Who's Andrew?" Alli whispered.
"Travis's boyfriend. Apparently, Travis happens to be her friend."
"He's good." Travis replied. "And um..we're marrying."
"Oh my god, what! That's amazing! Congratulations, Travis. I'm so happy for you."
"Thank you ma'am." His smile was clearly heard in his voice.
Their conversation slowly faded as they walked away or more precisely, Vittoria took him away from here. I exhaled a held in breath but moved to the door, pressing my ear over it while Alli continued with the search. Vittoria was gone and we couldn't afford to leave the area unguarded.
"Psst." Alli called, checking the dressing table. "I think we were wrong about Travis. He doesn't seem so shady now."
She was kinda right but I won't take anyone off the radar. He was Camila's bodyguard since she was a teen. I was even aware about how Travis disliked Vittoria in the beginning thinking she had replaced Camila. That alone said a lot about his loyalty.
"Did you find anything?" I asked getting anxious.
"No." She shook her head. "I told you we won't get anything in here. If she's really working with the Visitant then she's smart. She won't be careless enough to leave clues in her room."
"Can't you leave your pessimism aside for a while?" I said, my body turning stiff as I heard some footsteps but relaxed when I realized it was Vittoria. She gestured about her presence and I joined back with the search.
I remember her talking to someone discreetly at night. Maybe there's a burner phone. Or maybe something else, anything. No crime is perfect. She had to leave back some clue that helped us confirm our doubt and find some proof.
"Hey Mase." Alli nudged me with her elbow. "What's that?" She pointed at the canvases draped with the red velvet cloth."
"It's her special project." I rolled my eyes, recollecting her first sincere smile when she talked about it.
"Well, let's see your admirer's special project, shall we?" She rubbed her palms evilly.
"Alli! Can you please focus!"
"Aww, my Masey looks so cute when he's all awkward. I'm attracted to you in ways I can't explain, Mase." She mocked, imitating Camila. I cringed at that scene playing in my head.
"Well then tell her I'm not available. Junior Outhwaite has a crush on me. There's no way I'll choose that snake over my cupcake."
A smile played on my face as I recollected our meet. She was the most adorable kid..after my kiddo. But I really gotta praise the Outhwaite genes. They all look so good. That's insane. After knowing Xenia's story, my respect for Harrison increased tenfold. It wasn't easy to be a single dad.
Alli's sudden sharp gasp almost made me flinch, pulling me out of my thoughts.
"What the fuck!"
"Wha-" I couldn't complete that. My eyes trailed her vision and it was like a punch to my gut— so unexpected and so unbelievable. But it was real.
The velvet cloth in Alli's hand slipped away, dropping over the floor while she gaped at the painting— Camila's special project. It was deceivingly normal. One boy. One girl. In love. Kissing each other.
But...
The girl was Camila. And the boy was..me!
My smile in the picture was the purest, the most relaxed one which I doubt ever surfaced on my face in reality. Was that how I'd look with a serene smile? Moreover, did she imagine me so well? Because I for sure only had a cringe on my face whenever I was around her.
Barely getting over the shock of the first painting, Alli pulled out the remaining three hidden behind that one.
They were all my portraits.
I had never seen myself in this form. For the first time I realized how I'd look if I didn't have so much burden on my shoulders. Seeing myself that way was oddly appeasing.
"Mase." Alli held my arm, her terrified blue eyes still glued over the paintings.
"Don't even get that thought in your head. She clearly mentioned she loves Rafael. She's just infatuated with me."
With utmost difficulty, she tore her eyes from the painted canvases and met my gaze.
"Maybe it's the other way around. Maybe she doesn't know it herself."
"Are you serious, Vittoria?" Harri scoffed, curlings his lips up in a mocking amusement. "You did a SWOT analysis of our plan?"
"Don't laugh, Harri! I was just trying to assist the director."
"I'm touched with your efforts, really." He teased and I splashed the water on him in retaliation.
I pulled my legs up and patted the spot next to me at the edge of the fountain at the centre of the garden in front of the mansion.
"Uh.. I don't think that'd be appropriate while I'm on duty." He denied politely.
We were lucky to have grandpa order him to undertake mission happy Vittoria. That cut our efforts to half, giving him a million reasons to be with me while Oliver backing him up.
"You're thinking the same thing as me, princess Leia?" He smirked.
"Uh huh."
"The force is with us." We did a high five and I even jumped up to do a hip bump but stopped when he gave me those warning looks like he gave to Xenia. And then he laughed at me seeing me sit back down like a good kid.
Just then the huge iron gates swung open and a black SUV rolled inside. The short lived jovial moment crashed. My muscles tensed. My heart thudded more violently as the car stopped and they stepped out. Hand in hand.
"Hey, relax." Harri placed a hand over my shoulder, drawing circles with his thumb.
Relax? Here I cried my eyes out for him, got my knuckles bloody and got tired of waiting for him to return and there he was, all happy and in love.
He curtly looked back at me, threw me a victory smirk and walked inside without regarding me any further.
My blood boiled but my heart broke.
"Vittoria-"
"I know, Harri." I interrupted, running a hand through my hair. "I won't show it on my face, don't worry."
"On the very contrary, show it." He stated.
"Excuse me, what?"
"Yes. Keep it natural. They all know you're just pretending to be okay. Come on Vittoria, they know you well. Besides, if you act all indifferent, he'll know this thing between us is fake. Remember the mantra— make it believable."
Yeah, right.
"Now listen to me carefully." He dictated like a school teacher. "Tonight when I leave for home, come out to bid me goodbye and at the same time try hiding it from them but only foolishly enough to make it very clear to them. Understood?"
"Aye aye, captain!"
"See, you're learning." He winked and went back to work while I begrudgingly entered the house with my laptop tucked under me arm.
I prayed the living room was empty so that I could run away upstairs without having to face them. But my big ass fuck luck decided to say its me!hi!
Everyone were gathered down like Tom Holland was going to show up and moment.
"I missed you, Cami!" Toby ran to her, lifting her up and threatening to throw her down again.
"I didn't miss you at all, you idiot." She giggled.
"Such a liar."
"Actually, yes." She kissed him on the cheek.
I squirmed on the inside with disgust. Stay away from my friends, bitch.
I rolled my eyes, continuing my way upstairs to my room but a voice, stern and filled with authority stopped me.
"Wait. I've got an announcement to make." That pretty much explained the reason why he had gathered the crowd.
"I'd love you hear your bullshit, Mr Grayson. But I'm gonna have to let you down. I've promised the spiders in my room to teach them salsa on a bright summer morning." I said without stopping my ascend.
"Hey can I join later on? What are your fees?" Toby chuckled.
"Cookies and cream." I shouted over my shoulder, laughing while struggling to hold that sob in my throat.
It killed me everytime I made a fool of myself crying in front of them for a person who didn't even care about me anymore.
However, I couldn't make it till my room. Pressing my back against the wall, I finally let out my tears whilst focusing my attention on the voice downstairs. I shouldn't have heard that announcement.
They were marrying next month. On Camila's birthday.
•••••••
"The fuck are you looking at? Pick it up." Camila frowned at her fallen paintbrush and then lifted her emerald eyes at the guard stationed in the hallway.
This infuriating bitch!
"Show them a little respect, Camila. They aren't your slaves. "
"Actually they are." She retorted.
"I'm sorry ma'am." The guard picked it up for her and she sashayed downstairs but not before sliding her hair to the side to display those hickeys on her neck.
That's how easy it was for him.
"Thank you ma'am." He bowed down dutifully.
"For what, Joshua?"
"For being yourself. That's what makes you different from others." He passed me an small smile.
"You're a sweetheart, Joshua." I blew him a kiss, and headed downstairs, not knowing until today how much value these little encouraging comments carried.
"You didn't teach me salsa." Toby pouted as he saw me proceed their way. "I even picked the prettiest lady spider as my dance partner."
"Ew, Tobo. Stop talking about spiders." I made a face, plonking down next to him. "What did I miss?"
So grandpa had made this new family time tradition where everyone gathered after dinner for a few minutes of family time. According to him, it was vital for a strong family bonding although I think that was just an excuse to see Alli.
"Guess what! Alli just finalized a photoshoot for a swimwear brand. I'm so excited." Liam did a cheer girl dance while lazed on the black couch.
"Really? Wow, that's amazing. When is it?"
"The dates and location are yet to be finalized but it shall be in the next two weeks." She replied, her eyes twinkling with an adorable zeal.
"I'm gonna be there and watch it."
"Sure." She grinned.
I could feel Rafael's secret but snide gaze as if trying to study me. His eyes fell over my brusied knuckles. But it didn't have any effect on him.
So that's how it was. Camila got the hickeys and I got the brusies. Fair enough.
I hurled away the well known pain before it started to crawl into my heart once again and focused on my mission.
"Fuck! What's the time?" I screeched, hastily checking my phone although I knew it was ten and made a dash for the front door, hoping that'd seem weird enough to the others.
"What happened to you all of a sudden?" Oliver quizzed, totally lost.
"I'll be right back." I yelled back, running out to see Harri leaving.
He stopped and turned back at the sound of me jogging. "I thought you forgot." He smiled.
"Nah! So now what?" I questioned, rocking back and forth on my heels.
"Nothing." He shrugged. "This was just to plant that seed of doubt, you know." He said dramatically.
"We might as well make a movie on this." I giggled, feeling a little stupid whenever we pretended this..thing. But whatever.
"Yeah. I hope this one doesn't get scrapped before releasing." He rolled his eyes playfully. "Anyway, I'll go. Goodnight, Vittoria."
"Goodnight, Harri boy." I hugged him but he pulled apart.
"This would arise doubts." He cautiously pitched his eyes behind me to see if someone was there seeing us.
"Come on Harri! Can't I hug my friend goodbye?"
"Ah, that you surely can." He bent down, wrapping his arms around me.
"You know we should keep a secret code to use when we want to display that our action was beyond this plan." I suggested.
"Now I get why they call you a drama queen." He mocked. "But that's logical." He added quickly.
"I never talk nonsense." I sassed. "So we'll say Code Pikachu. Sounds cute."
"Code Pikachu. Goodnight, sweet dreams." He said in all seriousness.
"Code Pikachu. Kiss my Nia goodnight on my behalf."
"Code Pikachu. Sure thing." We laughed at the trivial joke we made and I waved him goodbye before going back in.
I bit back a grin when all pair of curious eyes narrowed at me while resisting the urge to check on the one which I was concerned about had the effects me or not.
I didn't.
But I wasn't going to give up.
Wait until I break you, Rafael Grayson.
"What?" I looked around at the accusing faces, pretending to be all clueless.
"What was that?" Oliver raised a brow.
I scratched my head, taking my own sweet time to answer. "I- I thought I'd forgotten my flip flops in there garden." I blurted.
"Does that flip flop happen to be British?" Mason asked nonchalantly.
"Mase!" I glared at him, wishing he went on with it. Which he did.
Yes!
"What are you? A ten p.m. Cinderella? Your flip flop will vanish after ten? Why did you have to run for your life like that? And where is that million dollar flip flop?"
"I said I thought I left it out. But I didn't." I chuckled nervously.
"Just when I thought you were single again." Liam muttered under his breath, making me laugh at him.
I was aware of Oliver's inquisitive gaze on me but I didn't react to it until he spoke. "Why are you hiding it from us, muffin?"
"I don't know what you're talking about." I dismissed it.
"I think you know."
"Can we not discuss about it in front of everyone?" I said in a hushed tone but loud enough for Rafael sitting next to him to hear it.
"Oliver Rivera has the audacity to ask her not to hide her relationship. Amazing." Liam frowned.
"We're not in a relationship!" Grandpa and I both exclaimed in unison.
"We believe you." Mason, Toby and Liam yelled back in unison.
We expected Alli to pass some sassy comment but we received pure nonchalance. I wondered what was going on between them now.
"Liam." She called him sweetly.
"Yes, gorgeous." He replied dreamily.
"I'm going to need your help."
"I'll give my life for you. Just you demand."
Camila muttered something under her breath, rolling her eyes at them.
"Oh please spare your life. You're too precious. I need some hacking skills. I want to look up a person. Can you do that?"
"What now? You're on to stalking Nikolai?" Camila scoffed.
Can't she like step on a lego and lose her life altogether?
"Camila." I flashed her sickeningly innocent smile. "In case you don't know, you don't have to open your mouth to display how much of a bitch you are. We know it already."
Oliver passed me an angry glare and opened his mouth to start with his scolding but guess who beat him to it.
"Excuse me, Vittoria? What did you call her?" Rafael challenged.
"Did Paris got you some kind of defect in your ears?"
"Maybe somewhere else too." Mason mumbled, trying to supress his mocking laughter.
"So yeah, who do you want me to look up, Alli." Liam jumped in saving a severe argument.
A teasing smile stretched on her lips. Her sapphire eyes switched to mine, then back to Liam.
"Harrison Outhwaite." She winked.
Author: Woah! The comments! Because you've been so generous, let me thank you by giving you guys back to back updates.
Toby: Can you also give me a little more importance in this book? I mean look at me! I'm so cute. But I'm nowhere. If you don't, I'll spill your secret.
Author: And if you do, I will spill yours.
Toby: *tenses* Which one?
Author: That one. So shut up.
Mason: Told you she's a bitch. Bye.